Middlesbrough Head Of Academy Recruitment - Martin Carter ("Q4 Players Are Born 11 Months After Q1"") - Episode 23 snippet")

On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more.

Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the club's academy as a 12-year-old schoolboy, joins me on Episode 23 of my podcast and tells me.

That it’s no surprise that Quarter 4 players are favoured less by clubs, because they are born 11 months behind Quarter 1 September born players. Which in most cases, gives them an advantage.

Martin advises that clubs should not bank on this short term thinking when recruiting. He suggests that, clubs should visualise the future, to a time when players growth and maturity will all balance out as they eventually reach their potential adult size.

At that point all Q1 to Q4 born players will look similar. This is when technique and other qualities will be more important than how big or physically developed players are.

Full Episode: Friday April 10th 2026